Summary

The Caregiver Support Program (CSP) is a clinical program that provides benefits, services, education and resources to caregivers of Veterans with complex needs. Members of the HSA 5.3 CSP's Centralized Eligibility and Appeals Team (CEAT) are experts in the eligibility criteria for the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) and conduct comprehensive record reviews for determining eligibility and level of care per statue, regulation, policy, and guidelines.

Duties

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**This is not a remote position and the selected VHA employee must be located (or willing to relocate) within 50 miles of a VA Facility within the HSA 5.3 (Legacy VISN 22) catchment area and have space available for assignmentAlbuquerque, Greater Los Angeles, Loma Linda, Long Beach, Prescott, San Diego.

Duties include, but are not limited to :

• Supporting the mission, policies, and procedures of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the appropriate Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), and its associated facilities.
• Conducting comprehensive record reviews for the purposes of determining PCAFC eligibility, level of care, and appropriateness for participation per statue, regulation, policy, and guidelines. This is done from a Nurse Practitioner's perspective.
• Sustaining expert knowledge of eligibility criteria for the PCAFC and the regulations, statutes, directives and policies that govern or impact the program and decision making.
• Bringing a knowledge of, and ability to interpret the widest array of applicable assessments, tests, and medical records to assist CEAT with case disposition.
• Disability claim review and decision-making, resulting in forensic-style clinical letter writing in compliance with all applicable federal laws, VA regulations, and professional practice standards. This requires substantial independent clinical judgment, in-depth knowledge of complex case presentations, and the ability to expeditiously synthesize medical, psychosocial, and functional information for benefits determinations.
• Participation in inter-professional decision-making teams regarding clinical eligibility and appropriate level of caregiving required.
• Sensitivity to the issues and needs of Veterans and their families, when rendering clinical eligibility determinations.
• Conducting Peer Reviews from a Nurse Practitioner standpoint, which may occur at the regional level, to aide in achieving consistency nationally.
• Using professional standards of care, scientific evidence, and practice to evaluate program and/or service activities and implementing broad-reaching evidence-based change.
• Coordinating with VISN CEAT, other Regional CEATs and VACO CSP to develop and implement strategies for PCAFC determinations, appeals process, and performance improvement.
• Demonstrating knowledge and skill in the use of software applications for drafting documents and data management as well as other computer systems in use by the VHA to track workload and outcomes.
• Maintaining a level of productivity and quality consistent with the complexity of the assignment and consistent with Nurse Practitioner, Joint Commission, Program Office and VISN standards.
• Maintaining advanced knowledge and understanding of both the services and benefits available for caregivers from both federal, state and private sector resources.
• Evaluating program progress and outcomes and utilizes data to continuously modify and improve the program and processes.
• Completing all requested reports, data, and maintain reporting requirements with outcomes related to the CSP.
• Ability to coordinate patient care through patient management techniques across the patient care continuum.
• Effectiveness in recognizing emergency/acute situations and intervening in an appropriate and effective manner.
• Keeping supervisor apprised of problems and recommended solutions to problems encountered in the incumbent's area of responsibility.
• Furthering one's own professional growth through continuing education and for ensuring continuing education appropriate to the area of assignment.
• Actively participating in the CSP conference calls and participating in other relevant conference calls and/or meetings as assigned.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards

Pay: Competitive salary, regular salary increases, potential for performance awards

Paid Time Off: 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)

Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA

Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)

Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8am - 4:30pm PST; Hours are TBD based on the needs of the Service or Agency

Compressed/Flexible Schedule: May be Available

Telework: Ad-Hoc only

Remote: This is not a remote position.

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(f), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation/examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

Qualifications

**This is not a remote position and the selected VHA employee must be located (or willing to relocate) within 50 miles of a VA Facility within the HSA 5.3 (Legacy VISN 22) catchment area and have space available for assignmentAlbuquerque, Greater Los Angeles, Loma Linda, Long Beach, Prescott, San Diego.

Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse Practitioner) Basic Requirements

• Education: A post-master's certificate or master's or doctoral degree as a Nurse Practitioner. (Applicants pending the completion of educational requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until the education requirements are met.) Must be a graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate accrediting agency and accredited by one of the following accrediting bodies at the time the program was completed by the applicant:
  
  • The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or
  • The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
  • NOTE: Foreign Education. Graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing programs, the nurse practitioner degree equivalency must be validated through an Agency recognized degree equivalency evaluation agency, such as the International Consultants of Delaware (ICD). Candidates with equivalent nurse practitioner masters or doctorate level degrees who possess current, full, active, and unrestricted registration and certification will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant appointment.
• License - All APN (NPs) must possess and maintain an active, current, full, and unrestricted APN license to practice as an NP in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia.
• Basic Board Certification - All APN (NPs) must maintain full and current basic board certification in one of the following: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP), Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP), Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP), Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP), or Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (GNP) from one of the following: the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB), or other nationally recognized certifying body in the area in which the Nurse Practitioner is academically prepared.

NOTE: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and an APN (NP) assignment that are also performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the standard (1/29/2024) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification.

The following Scope, Education and Experience, and Dimension criteria must be met to qualify for Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse Practitioner) III:

• Scope: Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience, and creative approaches to management of complex client care.
• Education and Experience Requirement: Meets basic education requirement for an APN (NP) AND one year of specialized APN (NP) experience equivalent to the Nurse II grade level.
• Dimension Requirement: APN (Nurse Practitioners) at grade III are expected to meet the following dimension requirements:
  
  • Clinical Practice. Influences and models the delivery of evidence- based health care, demonstrating expertise in the ability to manage a patient panel, population, or program.
  • Outcome Focus. Leads and implements changes that enhance the quality and timeliness of Veteran/patient care applying research and evidence in the delivery of healthcare for patient populations.
  • Leadership. Initiates and leads interdisciplinary teams informed by structured approaches and processes to improve outcomes that positively impact care for a patient panel, population, or program.
  • Professional Development. Acquires knowledge and skills, then disseminates acquired information within and/or outside the medical facility.
  • Professionalism/Collegiality. Initiates and leads interdisciplinary teams developing systems that positively impact outcomes at the panel, population, or program level. Demonstrates effective communication skills and professional behavior, promoting cooperation and teamwork

Preferred Experience: Caregiver Support Program, disability claim review and decision-making processes and forensic-style clinical letter writing in compliance with all applicable federal laws, VA regulations, and professional practice standards. This is not an entry-level clinical role. It requires substantial independent clinical judgment, in-depth knowledge of complex case presentations, and the ability to synthesize medical, psychosocial, and functional information for benefits determination.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Moderate Lifting, 15-44 pounds; Light Carrying, under 15 pounds; Use of fingers; Walking - 2 hours; Standing - 2 hours; Near vison correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4 Far vison correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other eye; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Hearing (aid permitted)Mental/Emotional Stability required; Working closely with others; Working alone

Additional information

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new w